He trusts that the book fills very much needed gap in Sinhala Agricultural Literature which paves the way to an active lifestyle change by guiding people for urban agriculture (UA) while observing the concept of the Family Business Garden (FBG). By so doing, the book fulfils one of the national needs in the country.

Author
Dr. Thilak T. Ranasinghe, the pioneer of the practice of Urban Agriculture (UA) in Sri Lanka, is considered one of the foremost agricultural extension specialists in Sri Lanka. More than 30 years of successful and practical professional experience in rural, peri-urban and urban extension work has made him a top-level manager as well as a popular and influential writer in the field of development science. He retired from the Government service pre maturely while working as the Director of Agriculture-Western, Sri Lanka. Later he worked as an Advisor in Livelihood Improvement project of the Japan International Corporation Agency for three years.

Dr. Ranasinghe earned the Degree of B.Sc. in Agriculture with Second Class Upper Division honors from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1976, M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension from University Of Reading, UK in 1984 and read for the PhD. in Agricultural Policy and Management at the University of Manchester, UK in 1997. Dr. Ranasinghe has published a considerable number of research papers in national and international journals, made several extension research presentations and edited the “Handbook on Crop Suitability of the Western Sri Lanka,” in 2000. He authored the widely circulated “Manual of Low/No-Space Agriculture -cum- Family Business Gardens” in 2009.

This book looks great. Is it available in English? I am an active suburban micro farmer who is active in.helping others build micro farms and access local food. I am always looking for new or better ways to explain the “movement”. Thanks for the great newsletter.

Dear Howard
Thanks for your comments. As you inquired I could kindly guide you to the book of English titled “Manual of Low/No-Space Agriculture -cum- Family Business Gardens.” It is in the internet and you can easily go through it please.

Thank you for the information. I would enjoy corresponding with you off the blog. My email is howard@solganik.com. I am somewhat of a food activist currently trying to get real fresh food in a rural environments as well as urban. Our “farmers” and definitely or “ranchers” do not know how to feed themselves.